Where the heart is at channel 9

Well channel 9's home reno show Home Made has proven to be a fizzer. It's been axed after three weeks and has had tongues wagging with the phrase "death by promo".

It's being replaced by yet another 'feel good' show - here's a grab from the official press release:

NINE PRESS RELEASE 3 June

Random Acts of Kindness – a touching, joyous and surprise tribute series to people with hearts of gold – premieres on Nine on Sunday, June 14 at 6.30pm.

Each week three presenters – Karl Stefanovic, Scott Cam and Simmone Jade Mackinnon – grant wishes and make dreams come true when they head into a community and find someone special who deserves recognition for giving their all to deserving people or causes.

Besides the fact that I would rather tear my own skin off with a potato peeler than watch one moment of anything hosted by Karl Stefanovic - I am soooooo sick of these good samaratin reality shows.

Basically they consist of finding a poor person (- the only people desperate enough to use a reality tv show to solve their problems) who has a self-esteem problem due to (a) being ugly, (b) not having a mother/father or (c) being somehow disabled. The network then blow the budget on solving these problems by (a) carrying out extreme dental surgery, (b) utilising the services of the office of births, deaths and marriages or (c) supplying a new electric wheelchair.

Unfortunately the Australian public love these shows because no matter what your social-standing it's always nice to look down on someone. Reality shows bring out the elitist in all of us; "Oh, look at that poor dear with no front teeth. Isn't it lovely that he'll be able to smile again?"

Well I for one am self-aware enough to realise that looking down my nose at people is a short-term solution to the bigger problem of me not having nearly as much money as I'd like. Unfortunately with the "economic crisis" in full swing these 'Aussie Battler" stories will only grow in popularity.